Having multiple pairs of shoes is a given to most people, especially those of the female populous. There are, however, people, including children, in other parts of the world who have never known the comfort of a sole beneath their feet. The TOMS shoe brand is changing that, one sole at a time. Blake Mycoskie, 34, founded the company in 2006 while traveling in Argentina and met children who had no shoes to cover their feet. Thus began the One for One Movement.
The movement’s goal has a simplistic ring to it: For each shoe bought, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need in countries such as Argentina, Peru, and Haiti.
“Giving is what fuels us. Giving is our future,” says Mycoski. “It’s the core of our business and it’s time we celebrate it.”
But why give shoes? Shoes are a very important aspect of everyday life in the countries mentioned above, as well as many others. There are places where a child cannot attend school if he or she does not wear shoes. The TOMS reasoning is this: Giving a child a pair of shoes allows them the opportunity to go to school, which then gives them the opportunity to be successful later in their lives.
It’s not just Mycoskie and his team of volunteers who make the TOMS movement possible. Millions of people take part in One for One who also make the TOMS brand and charity a success. Across all grade levels, students are sporting TOMS on their feet. Senior Julie Devon has been attiring her 7 ½-sized foot in TOMS since her freshmen year.
“Between my sister Sam (class of 2009) and I, we have seven pairs,” said Devon of her shoe collection. She also believes that TOMS are more than just shoes. “They’re giving these kids an opportunity to go to school and improve their futures,” she said. In some countries, shoes are a requirement for school. If a child doesn’t have a pair, they can’t go to school, which means they won’t have an opportunity for a good future.
Devon and the ladies of Bishop Noll aren’t the only students who wear TOMS. “They help out and I get a cool pair of shoes,” said junior Robby Lorenz. Lorenz first heard about the canvas shoes from his brother, and now has a few pairs of his own. “They’re comfy and cool shoes, and they help out kids in need,” he said. The TOMS movement has become a prominent fixture in the young culture.
“I feel like our generation is wanting to make a difference in the world in some way or another,” said Devon of the trendy shoes. “That, and they’re super comfy,” she added.
Other companies are also taking to and mirroring Mycoskie’s plan. The widely popular Skechers shoe company is also giving a pair of shoes to a child in need when buyers purchase a pair from their new line–BOBS. The new Skechers shoes have raised some eyebrows on the TOMS end of the rope, however. From their identical canvas design to the placement of the BOBS logo, the new Skechers shoes have raised some eyebrows on the TOMS end of the rope.
“I guess you can’t complain because they’re contributing to a good cause,” said Devon.“It’s just they way [Skechers] went about doing it (‘stealing’ the TOMS design) is what makes it kind of shady.”
Out of all TOMS has to offer–their new One for One sunglasses line and sponsoring ‘One Day Without Shoes’ to spread the word–Devon says it’s the TOMS ‘community’ that impresses her the most.
“It seems like most people who wear TOMS really want to make a difference,” she said.
The TOMS brand is truly making its mark on the world, whether it’s with the help of those who sport the canvas shoes on their feet, or those that receive shoes because of the amazing–and very soleful–One for One Movement.